batchelder



' F. R. BATCHELDER. v PocREEn CARRIER EQulPMEN.

.APPLICATION FILED DEC.28, 191?.

Patented Dee. 23, 1919.

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1F. R. BATCHELDER.

POCKETED CARRIER EQUIPMENT.

APPLICATION FIL'ED DEC.28.1917.

l ,326,0 l 6. Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

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FRANK IR.. AIBATCHllllilDEIl, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 MILLS WG'VEN CARTBJEGEv BELT COMPANY, OF WORCESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS, A. CGRLGRATIN GF MASSACHUSETTS.

POCKETED-CARRIER EQUIPMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Deo. 23, 1919.

Originalapplcation led July 17, 1917, Serial No. 180,980. Divided and this application filed December 28,

p 1917. Serial No. 209,354.

4To all whom t may concern Vthe class embracing cartridge-carriers, hospital corps belts, medicaloflicers belts, and various other carriers having special adaptations. Such carriers comprise a plurality of pockets formed upon a supporting or body-band and outstanding therefrom.

The invention relates, more particularly, to the pockets, pocket-covers or flaps, and means of securing the latter inclosed condition, of carriers of the class'justmentioned.

One special "object of the invention is to produce carriers of woven material having pockets with smooth fronts. Another is to reduce the bulk and extent of projection of a pocket and its cover or flap when the latter is closed and fastened. Another is to so apply and locate the covers or {iaps and the fastener-devices therefor that they will be less likely to become caught upon different objects in the movements of the wearer of a carrier, and the covers or flaps pulled open. Another Visto permit the use of light easy-action fastener-devices of greatly-reduced cost, such as could not be used if required to be positioned at the front of a pocket on the prior .form of cover or flap. Another is to reduce the amount of material contained in a pocket covering, and thereby lessen cost. Another is to improve the appearance of a carrier. Another is to provide for double weather protection on top.

The invention consists, essentially, in a pocketed carrier of-woven material having the pocket-front provided with a cover or flap member of woven material rising therefrom, adapted to be bent forward away from over the pocket and its contents into unclosed position, and to be folded rearward fastener or over the top of the pocket and its contents into closed condition; and having also a second cover or Hap member connected with the carrier at the rear of the pocket, adapted to fold forward and interlap with the said front cover or flap member to produce thereby double weather -protection over the with which itY has been combined, and ary ranged to extend forward over the top of .the pocket and its contents, and down in front of the pocket. One member of the usual fastener-device has been attached to the pocket-front and the other to the cover or flap near its free end, which latter usually has had its corners turned under and stitched to give a pointed finish. This general construction has a number of material drawbacks and disadvantages to which reference is made later herein, and which are ,overcome by the invention.

. Various embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, in which latter,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one of the pockets of a cartridge-carrier, and one of the said embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a slight modification.

Fig.` 3 is a vertical section of the pocket of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4c is a vertical section of the pocket of Fig. 1, with its cover or flap members opened.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are vertical sections showing other embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 8 shows a portion of the body of a Vsoldier wearing a cartridge-belt of wellknown general character having covers or flaps in accordance with the invention.

Referring tothe drawings,--

The pockets 1, 1, of F-igs. 1, 2, and 8 may be woven integral with the supporting-bands or backings 2, 2, which is regarded as best in practice, or may be separately madein 4 approved manner (either by weaving them as pockets or by stitching them into shape) and attached to the said supporting-bands or backings,

The front cover or flap-member 3 in Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, 5, is a short piece of woven material which is attached by one end thereof to the pocket-front. The said piece is of a width bearing approved relations to that of the pocket with which it is combined, and is of a length to enable it to extend rearward to the desired extent over the top of the pocket and its contents. ln other words, the proportions of the front cover or flap` `member are such as to afford in practice the required protection to the pocket-contents. The rear cover or flap member 5h in Figs. l, 2, 8, 4, etc., is a similar piece of woven material which is connected with the carrier at the rear of the pocket, and as stated above is adapted to fold forward and interlap with the said front cover or flap-member to produce thereby the double weather protection over the top of the pocket and its contents. The fastening means for keeping the cover or flap-members closed over the top of the pocket and its contents may vary in practice. In the drawings such means comprises fastener-devices 6h, 7, of the wellknown glove-fastener or ball-and-socket type, the members of which are applied to the front cover or Hap-member and the rear cover or flap-member, respectively.

The rear cover or flap-member is shown in most of the views as having the attaching end thereof inserted into a housing-slit formed in the supporting-band or backing 2, and secured therein by means of stitches 5a. The said housing-slit may be dispensed with if deemed advisable, and other fastening means than stitches may be .employed in practice, if desired, such for instance as rivets or eyelets.

The front cover or flap-member in Figs. 3 and el. is applied to the pocket-front by entering one end of the same into the pocket, and making the inserted portion fast to the vpocket-front by stitchesii. The depth to 'which the inserted portion extends down within the pocket may vary in practice,'and such portion, if desired, may constitute an interior reinforce for the pocket-front, pocket-bottom, and pocket-back, or front and bottom, or front, in manner which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Other fastening means than stitches may be employed for securing the inserted portion of the front cover or flap-1ne1nber, such for instance as rivets or eyelets. ln some instances the attaching portion of the said cover or nap-member may be applied eX- teriorly to the pocket-front.

Fig. 5 shows a modification in which the attaching end of the front cover or flapmember, 3h, is entered-into a housing-slit formed in the pocket-front, andl secured therein by means of stitches 4a.

Fig. e shows a modification in which the pocket-front and pocketbaclr are without housing-slits, and the attaching ends of the front cover or flap-member 3b and rear cover or flap-member 5b, respectively, are woven split or divided and applied so as to straddle the upper portions of the pocket-front and pocket-back, the parts being secured together by stitches 5, (or other approved fastening means, if preferred).

Fig. 7 shows a modification in which the front cover or flap-member 3d, is woven integral with the pocket-front.

In the case of most of the embodiments of the invention that are shown in the drawings the rear cover or flap-member in the closed condition of the pocket overlies the front cover or fiap-nieinber, and the socketmember 6 of the fastener-device is combined with the rear cover or Hap-member, the cope ating stnd-men'iber 7 being combined with the front cover or flap-member. ln Fig. 2 theJ front cover or flap-member overlies the rear cover or nap-member in the closed condition of the pocket, the socket-member 6h being applied to the front cover or flap-member, and the cooperating stud-member to the rear cover or flapmember. v

fr pocket-covering made in accordance `with the invention does not extend down in front of the pocket, as in the case of covers or flaps heretofore provided in connection with the pockets of carriers ofthe class to which the invention relates. The advantages of the invention are numerous and important, one therefore is the increase that is possible in the holding capacity of the pockets, when desired, without material increase in the bulk and projection of the filled and covered or closed pockets. For instance, the present regulation cartridge belt has pockets carrying only two clips of cartridges each, as in the drawings, and if the pockets were enlarged to hold three clips would be open to the objection that the `filled pockets would stand out too far vfrom the body of the wearer. rihe invention renders it `practicable to give the pockets capacity for holding three clips of cartridges, or a corresponding bulk of other articles.

Each of cover or Hap-membersV shown in the drawings is a very short piece of woven web. Such members require no expensive pointing. Each thereof 1s inished witha plain hem, as shown. lf desired, even the hem may be dispensed with and the raw edge at the outer end of a covei or flapmember be merely whipped to prevent raveling. 1

When the front cover or flap-member is turned vforward as in Fig. i it is out of the way at the front ofthe pocket` and less likely to interfere with access to the contents of the pocket and withdrawal of such contents.

What is claimed as the invention is :-v

l. A pocketed carrier of woven material comprising a 'body-supported band or backing and a plurality of pockets outstanding therefrom in exposed position and havingeach pocket-front provided with a cover or flap-member of woven material rising therefrom, adapted to be bent forward away from the supporting-band or backing and from over the pocket and its contents into unclosed condition, and to be folded rearward over the top of the pocket and its contents into closed condition, and having also a se'cond cover or flap-member connected with the supporting-band or backing at the rear of the pocket, adapted to fold forward and interlap with the said front cover or Hapinember to produce thereby double weather protection over the top of the pocket and its contents with fastening means vlocated entirely at the top of the closed and fastened pocket.

2. A pocketed carrier of woven material comprising a body-supported hand or backing and a plurality of pockets outstanding therefrom in exposed position and having 4each pocket-front provided with a cover or Hap-member of woven material rising therefrom, adapted to be bent forward away from over the pocket and its contents into unclosed condition, and to be folded rearward over the top of the pocket and its contents into closed condition, and having also a second cover or flap-member connected with the supporting-band or backing at the rear of the pocket, adapted to fold forward and interlap with the said front cover or flapmelnber, to produce thereby double weather protection over the top of the pocket and its contents, with inter-engaging fastenermembers connected with the said cover or flap-members, respectively and located entirely at the top of the-closed and fastened pocket.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK R. BATCHELDER.

Witnesses:

ALICE M. 'IIsDALn ETHEL L. RICE. 

